Moeen Ali's innings set the tone for England early on.

After being put in to bat by New Zealand, England scored 172 for six in their ICC World T20 2014 Super-10s encounter at Chittagong. The innings had mixed fortunes with sides dominating in patches. New Zealand did well to hit England early, following which they bounced back. However, looking at the final score, one feels New Zealand have done well.

Kyle Mills started off brilliantly for New Zealand, or should we say Corey Anderson did. Alex Hales moved across his stumps and tried to work it to the leg-side. However, he got an outside edge and it flew towards Anderson at mid-off. Sensing that the ball was a bit high, Anderson jumped and held it with one hand.

Moeen Ali walked in and changed things for England. With the ball coming on, Ali did show that he had more time to play his strokes. He eased into his drives and pulled in front of the wicket quite nonchalantly. Ali made his intentions clear when he smashed two fours and a six off Mills’s second over. Meanwhile, Michael Lumb moved stably, smashing the occasional boundary.

Ali was a delight to watch as he smashed it around quite easily. When Southee came to bowl the fifth over, he was taken for 17 runs. In the powerplay, England had sped away to 55 for one. Once the powerplay was done, Lumb found his zone as he welcomed Nathan McCullum with two boundaries. But, Ali was dismissed soon after as he tried to pull Anderson and found the man in the deep on the leg-side. An over later, Lumb fell as he tried to loft one through the off-side but an edge flew to third-man where Anderson dived forward to take a good catch.

Thereafter, it was left to Eoin Morgan and Joss Buttler to put pressure on New Zealand. They did add 26 in a little over three overs, but then Morgan fell to an intelligent ploy by Southee as he found the fielder at mid-off. New Zealand had fielded very well and kept their high standards throughout the innings, save for one blemish.

At the end of 15 overs, England were decently placed at 126 for four. But then, Buttler was bowled for 32. Ravi Bopara continued to fight with Chris Jordan in the centre. In the 17th over, Bopara edged one off Southee, but Luke Ronchi failed to hold it behind the stumps. The next ball was dispatched over long-off for a six. And, adding to Southee’s woes, Jordan flat-batted the last delivery over long-off for maximum.

Jordan fell trying to clearn Nathan McCullum, but then came Tim Bresnan and along with Bopara, he ensured that England get past 170. Bresnan’s eight-ball 17 was very useful for England at the end. But, considering the powerplay England had, they could have scored a lot more. Nevertheless, it should be a decent score. Their bowlers would only be wary of the dew that sets in at night.